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probablykasper
probablykasper
Participant
Sep 28, 2022 9:41 AM UTC
Released

Ability to read text values of dropdowns in expressions

It's pretty cumbersome to have expressions work with dropdowns because currently you can only get the number value of a dropdown. Here's an example:

if (thisEffect("dropdown").value == 1) value = 13;
else if (thisEffect("dropdown").value == 2) value = 50;
else if (thisEffect("dropdown").value == 3) value = 100;

Now let's say you use the dropdown to control 12 properties. Then you make some mistake or you decide to change the values of this dropdown. Have fun.

SOLUTION

A solution would be to have a .textValue property of dropdowns. Here's how that would work with the example:

if (thisEffect("dropdown").textValue == "Style 1") value = 13;
else if (thisEffect("dropdown").textValue == "Style 2") value = 50
else if (thisEffect("dropdown").textValue == "Style 3") value = 100

Now the code is a LOT more readable and easier to work with.
      Pinned Reply By JohnColombo17100380

      Hi all,

      Expression access to the text in Dropdown Menu Controls’ Menu property is now available in the release of After Effects 26.0. Details on how to access the selected string or all the strings are documented here: https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/expression-language-reference.html#dropdown-menu-attributes.

       

      Thank you again for your requests for this feature!

       

      Cheers,

      - John, After Effects Engineering Team

      View reply

      19 replies

      JohnColombo17100380
      Community Manager
      JohnColombo17100380Community Manager
      Community Manager
      Jan 27, 2026 5:05 PM UTC
      In Development→Released
      Translate
      JohnColombo17100380
      Community Manager
      JohnColombo17100380Community ManagerPinned
      Community Manager
      Jan 27, 2026 5:04 PM UTC

      Hi all,

      Expression access to the text in Dropdown Menu Controls’ Menu property is now available in the release of After Effects 26.0. Details on how to access the selected string or all the strings are documented here: https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/expression-language-reference.html#dropdown-menu-attributes.

       

      Thank you again for your requests for this feature!

       

      Cheers,

      - John, After Effects Engineering Team

      Translate
      JohnColombo17100380
      Community Manager
      JohnColombo17100380Community Manager
      Community Manager
      Nov 20, 2025 7:16 PM UTC

      Hi all,

      Thank you for your requests to read the text in dropdown menus! You'll be happy to know that this functionality is now available to test in our Beta builds.

       

      Full details here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-beta-discussions/expression-amp-scripting-access-for-dropdown-text-and-keyframes-in-after-effects-beta-26-0x40/td-p/15601512

      Translate
        ricar2
        Known Participant
        Nov 5, 2025 12:02 AM UTC

        How come this still not a thing?

        People are requesting this since 2022

        Translate
        Kyle Hamrick
        Community Expert
        Kyle HamrickCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        Jan 22, 2025 6:23 PM UTC

        I was coming to make a request regarding expressions being able to count how many entries exist within the dropdown list (so you could tie a property to always reference the LAST option, for example), but I think the above request probably fulfills any use case I can think of... That said, I wouldn't be sad about both! 😅

        Translate
        E11World
        Inspiring
        Nov 1, 2023 6:09 PM UTC

        I wasted hours thinking I'm not suure what I'm doing only to find out it's not even possible. Such basic feature should have been there 10 years ago at least

        Translate
          Harchenko
          Inspiring
          Nov 29, 2022 7:25 AM UTC

          Hi, I would like to be able to get a text value from the Dropdown menu list, besides its numeric value.
          This will add more features for automating and writing expressions via the API.
          For expressions, it would also be useful

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            Leigh McG Art
            Participant
            Sep 28, 2022 10:28 AM UTC
            This would solve a big headache for me I'm currently facing! Would be overall very helpful in scripting and layer control.
            Translate
            ReginaldUser555
            Inspiring
            Sep 28, 2022 10:28 AM UTC
            I second this.
            Translate
            Aaron Cobb
            Inspiring
            Sep 28, 2022 10:28 AM UTC
            To clarify/correct Seth Jansen's earlier comment, Dropdowneffect.setPropertyParameters() is a scripting function, not an expressions language function.
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